Reptile & Amphibian Forums

By what everyone has experienced should I get a yellow anaconda or a burmese python? I know the burm will not be as fiesty just to the characteristic of the snake, but besides size I dont know what one I would enjoy more. I think I want a bigger snake that I will be able to take out, and dont know if i would be able to with the yellow?
thoughts please!
thanks

` Some Burms, some Anacondas, some Rottweilers, and some humans are friendly, and some want to kill you. Some are in-between. Some are moody, and some are not.
` It's much more about picking the right individual, than it is about picking the right species.
` Once that's done, it's all about how you treat each individual, starting with a baby. Like any other animal, each wants something different.
` With the giant constrictors however, you'd better be serious, and know what you're doing.

If you go through all the forums related to giant constrictors, you'll fine loads of information about behavior. You've just got to be able to figure out which is factual, and which is baloney!
` The search feature can help, or drive you crazy.

`

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I totaly agree with dfr. You might also want to ad in the extra cost of feeding and caging a big burm.---And dfr... The pic in the middle of your post was just scarry. But the first pic was real cute. It shows what Anacondas can be IF treated correctly.---Eric---

i agree with what both of you say..but there are a few things this person should take into consideration. One thing..in general you CAN make some assumptions. I don't know near as many cases of difficult dispositions with burmese pythons as say amazon tree boas..but the difference is atbs are skinny little snakes that might get 6 feet and cannot kill you..the burmese python can get over 20 feet. with ALL large constrictors you need to be serious about what you are getting into..the number one snake for injury and death is the burmese python. they are readily available (many people buy them before realizing that it gets so big and what that actually means). and other people take it for granted that their snake that has never bitten since it was a tiny little hatchling..then they go to clean out the cage and the snake is now big enough to see you as food. people get careless...their are plenty of people who have burmese pythons and have had them for many years and still probably dont even know simple things like its range and origin. dont get a big snake because you think it would be cool. if it is a true passion for pythons or anacondas and you are willing to make the dedication...go for it. i will also point out a few different things like care. burmese pythons are particularly prone to resperatory infections (especially the green phase). green anacondas get huge and your decision to provide this snake with submergable water makes a big difference as far as maintenance...one way hosts more bacteria and requires more cleaning..the other way you need to make sure it is getting the right humidity so it doesnt dry out and cause other health problems. yellow anacondas are not free from problems either. however..these snakes are smaller than green anacondas and burmese pythons and they are still a big snake. the other two people who posted are very right that it is the individual snake and how you keep it...just be prepared for any snake to never change to a good temper or to go from good to bad temper with no warning. this hobby does not need any more bad publicity. this comes with people not ready for big snakes and people that dont know enough about their big snakes. im sure it would be cool to play cobra charmer for your friends with your new albino monacle..but your room for error is way smaller than the balls it took to do something so dumb. i dont mean to sound mean about this but i think all people should think of what they are doing for a long time before they do it. i am sick of seeing shows like animal planets "the big squeeze" because some wack off decided to pet his chinchilla and then play with his 85 lb burmese python. this is why many states and counties have laws that only allow 6 or 8 foot snakes...this rules out all of the snakes you are thinking about getting...unless you have a yellow anaconda male with a small appetite. you may very well be ready for this responsibility and it might be such a good experience that you end up helping educate people on large constrictors and helping get rid of the stigma...but to all people who make posts like this..consider which personality you are most likely to fit into before picking between anaconda or python.

Get a red-tail boa to start with. Their temperment is good and they dont attain the huge size of a burm or a conda(maybe about the same as yellows). They still get large enough to be quite impressive however. My green female has never struck at me but I still have all my senses tuned into her when handling. That's what an experienced keeper has over an inexperienced one; The ability to "read" a snakes disposition. Snakes "generally" show signs of striking before they actually do. This is not a rule, however, as I have been bit by seemingly content snakes. The other posts where great info for you. I hope you read them all. In conclusion remember you will have a responsibility to all of us in the hobby by not becoming the next big 10 o'clock news story and assuring even more restrictions on our hobby.
Arik

get a red-tail boa to start with? i sure hope that my post did not spark this kind of reaction. I in no way ment to belittle the person asking about this by hinting they were not ready for a large consrictor. My intention was only to take these things into consideration and know your personality enough to know whether or not you are ready for this. even experienced people can make mistakes and any snake can surprise you even if you think you are ready..not to mention..does it matter how ready you are for a 20 foot snake to turn on you? i hope the person helping you is the one ready. i do not know the background of the person who posted the question about getting a burmese or an anaconda but i deffinitely would say that neither (especially the green anaconda) are beginner snakes. they are not just more advanced snakes for size and safety reasons but they have some more specific requirements you should be ready for. my advise is in no way to get a redtail boa, just take all considerations everyone posted before you make your descision on which snake would be best for you.

Nor did I mean to seem like I was talking down to him. I just wanted to emphasize that anacondas have a lot differen't and specific requirements to keeping them sucessfully. I guess I just assumed that he was new to the keeping or large snakes. I do stand by my recomendation that a red tail boa is a more suitable starter boa. Out of the ones that are generally considered large.
Arik

?

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lol...sure looks bigger than the yellow anacondas i have seen. still...no burmese or green anaconda comparison. that is a huge boa constrictor and pretty might i add. what are the measurements on that?

` ..my goodness! I didn't know Boa constrictors got that big.

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i have seen thousands of boas and none were that big...sorry i asked ; )

` I've seen a lot of Boas, too. I never saw one as big as these either.

` I found one of these pix on McCarthy Boas website, on his "Big Boas" page. He has a wonderful, and large, collection of pix on his site.

Go here: www.mccarthyboas.com/BigSnake.html

` By the way, the one who said, " My Goodness. I didn't know Boas got that big.", was me.

` And, your dad has my condolences. Tell him to do what I do. Keep a snake over your face. That way, you won't scare anybody.
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by the way...you look like my dad

...

np
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

I thankyou for your help. But you also have to realize not everyone is just in it for the BIG SNAKE idea, I have many many reptiles, many snakes in that matter. I have snakes right now that are around 5-8 feet in length. I have never had something that in bigger than that yet. I know they arent HUGE snakes but I do have a sense of what I need to learn and what to study to be able to keep something like a anaconda or burm. I just wanted more on personal preference and ideas of both. I have something set in my mind, But I like to know from the people that have had them already. I know your intentions were for the people that just get a snake for the hell of it before realizing they bought a snake that will get 20 plus feet and need to eat meals bigger then there pet cat...but you can't always assume everyone that posts doesnt know ANYTHING on the subject they are asking about. Just something to think about, I mean I didnt ask a stupid question it was a reasonable question thats it.
thanks

i hope my response did not make you think i assumed you did not know anything. that was actually something i tried to sway away from...i did however want to mention some specific requirements to each species. the sublect matter in genral was where i wanred to point out the other facts and statistics. I believe i mentioned a few times that I do not know you or your personality and experience..i left that to be your decision on your background. i do not regret my post at all because i hope it had a few facts people can use when talking to others who might not be qualified and these are things that we all (including you) need to keep pointing out to people that may not know what they are getting into. I try to be very carefull not to make assumptions but sometimes people can be led in different directions because there is only one line of communication. (i made a guess that kelly haller was female from his name and a picture he posted with 2 girls carrying an anaconda...i was the one not paying close enough attention to the post..i felt pretty stupid but also i feel confident that i am not sexest to assume a green anaconda breeder must be a male ; ) [sorry again kellyt]). your question before also asked about size difference between green and yellow anacondas something most people in this forum would call basic knowledge..but we all keep anacondas and shouldnt assume just because people are just getting into a species they have little reptile background...I do appologize if i made it sound like i assumed you were inexperienced ( i truely did not believe that at all..which is why i was quick to point out that recomending a redtail boa was not the best idea for someone asking about 2 different species (not to belittle arik for his post..i have seen a lot of your posts and your photos arik and your snake looks very good..i also like how you are quick on the posts to give advice..your intentions and points were good). good luck and let us know what your decision is on your new pet (i hope the posts also helped in your decision)and if it is an anaconda...this is a great forum to bring in questions. there are a LOT of experienced people in here that are very inteligent.

I posted above and will post again that I too did not mean to imply that you weren't experienced with herps. I apologize if my posts came across that way. The red tail boa comment was based on my assumption(wrong) that you were new to the hobby. I will try to have a more open mind from now on in my posts. Forums are easy to derive assumptions about the people who post on them as eunectus pointed out.(kelly as an example). Again my apologies and I hope you enjoy whatever animal you end up with.
Arik
Thanks for the compliments on my conda eunectus.

sorry eunectes, I cant even spell tonight. I'm at work and trying to hurry through this. I cant believe I mispelled eunectes not once but twice.lol
Arik